March Roundup: New Birka-type Crucifix Discovered, Dexippus Fragment Translation Published, Rare Belt Buckle Found, and Galloway Hoard Images
March has been pretty fruitful for news in ancient Germanic studies. From a new Birka-type Viking Age crucifix found on the Danish island of Funen, to a new translation of newly discovered fragment of an account of a Gothic invasion of Greece, to the implications of a curious belt buckle found in a Viking Age grave in Jutland, and finally to new images of a Viking Age hoard found in Scotland, there's plenty to talk about here.
Six Questions IV: Kevin French
The fourth entry for Mimisbrunnr.info's Six Questions series is an interview with American academic and Heathen Kevin French. Outside of his academic work, French maintains a popular following via his Tumblr blog, where he regularly fields questions regarding topics such as North Germanic religion, runology, and Germanic linguistics.
French is additionally moderator for Fuck Yeah Norse Mythology, a Tumblr blog that functions as something of an aggregate for posts on Norse mythology within the Tumblr community, ranging from art to discussion threads. French's Tumblr activities provide a window into how Germanic Heathenry exists and operates on a popular internet platform in 2016.
Archaeologists Reveal Visigothic Site in Bulgaria
The Viking Society for Northern Research's 2016 Student Conference
Big Think's "Iceland is Officially Worshiping Norse Gods Again"
Six Questions III: Frøydis
The subject of our third Mimisbrunnr.info's Six Questions entry is Frøydis. Frøydis has a background in fashion modeling—represented by model agency Pholk in Norway—and was notably a finalist in Norway’s Next Top Model in 2008 (before exiting the competition due to illness).
In addition to modeling, Frøydis is active in Viking Age reenactment, environmentalist, live action roleplaying (LARP), and cosplay circles. She maintains a blog documenting her activities, Lin og Lauk (Nynorsk ‘flax and onion’, referring to a magic formula appearing on a runic inscription from Fløksand, Norway and in the Old Norse Völsa þáttr).
National Geographic and Slavery in the Viking Age
Colorful New Finds at Iron Age Site in Ørland, Norway
Julius Caesar's Massacre of the Usipetes and Tencteri and Recent Archaeological Developments
An FBI Operation, Germanic Heathenry, and Media Representation
Babbel.com Feature on Old Norse Influence on English
Six Questions II: Arrowyn Craban Lauer
Mimisbrunnr.info's second Six Questions subject is artist Arrowyn Craban Lauer. Lauer produces art in a variety of media and is co-creator of Hex Magazine—an independent bi-annual publication active between 2007 to 2013, totaling 11 issues. Today Lauer lives in Portland, Oregon with her daughter and husband, and produces art under the name Little Gold Fox Designs.
Hex Magazine's stated mission was "mak[ing] old world knowledge and wisdom available for use in our everyday lives, and thus to bring continuity to the present and heart to future generations". In effect, a typical issue of Hex Magazine might various feature a guide to building a home garden inspired by the Old English Nine Herbs Charm (issue #6), an essay about the North Germanic goddess Freyja, or an interview with a neofolk musician working with themes from Heathenry. In effect, Hex Magazine was a clearing house for the intersection of subcultures around post-industrial music and forms of Neopaganism, particularly Germanic Heathenry.